House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Strengthen the Enforcement of Immigration Law
March 18, 2015
Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation by a vote of 17-13 to remove the ability of the President to unilaterally shut down immigration enforcement and strengthen the security of our country and communities. The Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 1148), authored by Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), strengthens the interior enforcement of our immigration laws by granting states and localities the authority to enforce federal immigration laws and defunds President Obama’s unilateral executive actions on immigration.
Additionally, the bill makes our country safer by making it more difficult for foreign nationals who pose a national security risk to enter and remain in the U.S., improving visa security in high risk countries, and protecting American communities from dangerous criminal aliens.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy (R-S.C.) praised today’s Committee vote.
Chairman Goodlatte: “There are many issues plaguing our nation’s immigration system but the biggest problem is that our immigration laws are not enforced. While presidents of both parties have not fully enforced our immigration laws, President Obama has unilaterally gutted the interior enforcement of our laws. By refusing to enforce the laws against illegal immigration, President Obama’s immigration policies collectively undermine the integrity of our immigration system and send the message to the world that our laws can be violated with impunity.
“Congressman Gowdy’s bill remedies this problem by taking the enforcement ‘on/off’ switch away from the president so that one person cannot unilaterally shut down the enforcement of our immigration laws. It also protects our country and neighborhoods from the threats posed by terrorists and dangerous criminal aliens. I thank Congressman Gowdy for his work on this crucial piece of legislation and urge the House to take it up immediately so that we stop President Obama from unilaterally gutting the enforcement of our immigration laws.”
Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy: “Adherence to and respect for the rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy. But for too long, our immigration laws have gone unenforced, and most Americans are rightfully skeptical of any reforms coming out of Washington. This legislation allows our state and local law enforcement to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws, removing the ability of this or future Presidents to unilaterally turn off enforcement. We already entrust them with enforcing every category of law and for providing Members of Congress security at our town halls and events.
“This bill, which is one part of the Committee’s step-by-step process to address our broken immigration system, will ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and help us earn back the trust of the American public.”
Key Components of the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act
· Ends the President’s Ability to Unilaterally Shut Down Immigration Enforcement: This bill removes the ability of the President to unilaterally shut down enforcement efforts by granting states and localities specific congressional authorization to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law and includes provisions to facilitate their assistance. It also allows states and localities to enact and enforce their own immigration laws as long as they are consistent with federal law. In addition, the bill withholds specific grants from sanctuary cities that defy federal immigration enforcement efforts.
· Strengthens National Security: The bill makes it more difficult for foreign terrorists and other foreign nationals who pose national security concerns to enter and remain in the United States. Of note, the bill bars foreign terrorists who threaten national security from receiving immigration benefits, such as naturalization and discretionary relief from removal. The bill also requires that no immigration benefits can be provided until all required background and security checks are completed.
· Protects American Communities from Dangerous Criminal Aliens: The bill protects the American public by facilitating and expediting the removal of criminal aliens. In the instance a dangerous criminal alien cannot be removed from the U.S., the bill allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain them. It also contains provisions from a bill authored by Congressman Ted Poe that sanctions countries that fail to accept return of their nationals who are ordered removed from the U.S. Additionally, the bill keeps our streets safe by providing for mandatory detention of unlawful immigrants who have been convicted of DUIs.
· Improves Visa Security: The bill improves our nation’s first line of defense, the visa issuance process. The bill expands the Visa Security Program to additional high risk posts, strengthens the integrity of the student visa program, and authorizes DHS and the State Department to revoke visas to foreign nationals if in the security interests of the U.S.
· Helps ICE Officers Better Do Their Jobs: The bill assists U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in carrying out their jobs of enforcing federal immigration laws by strengthening their ability to make arrests for immigration violations. The bill also allows all ICE deportation officers and agents to carry firearms.
· Reviews Administration’s Abuse of Prosecutorial Discretion: The bill requires a report to Congress each year on the abuse of prosecutorial discretion by the Administration.
· Defunds President Obama’s Unilateral Immigration Actions: The bill defunds President Obama’s unilateral, unconstitutional actions on immigration, whether it be appropriations funds, agency-collected fees, or anything else.
Watch Congressman Gowdy explain the need for strong interior enforcement here. Learn more about the House Judiciary Committee’s work on immigration here.
Additionally, the bill makes our country safer by making it more difficult for foreign nationals who pose a national security risk to enter and remain in the U.S., improving visa security in high risk countries, and protecting American communities from dangerous criminal aliens.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy (R-S.C.) praised today’s Committee vote.
Chairman Goodlatte: “There are many issues plaguing our nation’s immigration system but the biggest problem is that our immigration laws are not enforced. While presidents of both parties have not fully enforced our immigration laws, President Obama has unilaterally gutted the interior enforcement of our laws. By refusing to enforce the laws against illegal immigration, President Obama’s immigration policies collectively undermine the integrity of our immigration system and send the message to the world that our laws can be violated with impunity.
“Congressman Gowdy’s bill remedies this problem by taking the enforcement ‘on/off’ switch away from the president so that one person cannot unilaterally shut down the enforcement of our immigration laws. It also protects our country and neighborhoods from the threats posed by terrorists and dangerous criminal aliens. I thank Congressman Gowdy for his work on this crucial piece of legislation and urge the House to take it up immediately so that we stop President Obama from unilaterally gutting the enforcement of our immigration laws.”
Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy: “Adherence to and respect for the rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy. But for too long, our immigration laws have gone unenforced, and most Americans are rightfully skeptical of any reforms coming out of Washington. This legislation allows our state and local law enforcement to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws, removing the ability of this or future Presidents to unilaterally turn off enforcement. We already entrust them with enforcing every category of law and for providing Members of Congress security at our town halls and events.
“This bill, which is one part of the Committee’s step-by-step process to address our broken immigration system, will ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and help us earn back the trust of the American public.”
Key Components of the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act
· Ends the President’s Ability to Unilaterally Shut Down Immigration Enforcement: This bill removes the ability of the President to unilaterally shut down enforcement efforts by granting states and localities specific congressional authorization to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law and includes provisions to facilitate their assistance. It also allows states and localities to enact and enforce their own immigration laws as long as they are consistent with federal law. In addition, the bill withholds specific grants from sanctuary cities that defy federal immigration enforcement efforts.
· Strengthens National Security: The bill makes it more difficult for foreign terrorists and other foreign nationals who pose national security concerns to enter and remain in the United States. Of note, the bill bars foreign terrorists who threaten national security from receiving immigration benefits, such as naturalization and discretionary relief from removal. The bill also requires that no immigration benefits can be provided until all required background and security checks are completed.
· Protects American Communities from Dangerous Criminal Aliens: The bill protects the American public by facilitating and expediting the removal of criminal aliens. In the instance a dangerous criminal alien cannot be removed from the U.S., the bill allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain them. It also contains provisions from a bill authored by Congressman Ted Poe that sanctions countries that fail to accept return of their nationals who are ordered removed from the U.S. Additionally, the bill keeps our streets safe by providing for mandatory detention of unlawful immigrants who have been convicted of DUIs.
· Improves Visa Security: The bill improves our nation’s first line of defense, the visa issuance process. The bill expands the Visa Security Program to additional high risk posts, strengthens the integrity of the student visa program, and authorizes DHS and the State Department to revoke visas to foreign nationals if in the security interests of the U.S.
· Helps ICE Officers Better Do Their Jobs: The bill assists U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in carrying out their jobs of enforcing federal immigration laws by strengthening their ability to make arrests for immigration violations. The bill also allows all ICE deportation officers and agents to carry firearms.
· Reviews Administration’s Abuse of Prosecutorial Discretion: The bill requires a report to Congress each year on the abuse of prosecutorial discretion by the Administration.
· Defunds President Obama’s Unilateral Immigration Actions: The bill defunds President Obama’s unilateral, unconstitutional actions on immigration, whether it be appropriations funds, agency-collected fees, or anything else.
Watch Congressman Gowdy explain the need for strong interior enforcement here. Learn more about the House Judiciary Committee’s work on immigration here.